Hydrangea plant named &#39;Grace&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  (Thunb.) named ‘Grace’ originated as a controlled cross between unpatented varieties. The cultivar ‘Grace’ can be blue or red depending on the acidity of the soil and the presence of aluminum, but is preferably grown as a red variety. The variety ‘Grace’ has large attractive inflorescences with large sepalous florets, distinct sepal pigmentation and good tolerance to cold temperatures. The upperside of the sepals is R.H.S. 63 A (red-purple group), the underside of the sepals is R.H.S. 63 D (red-purple group)

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Grace’

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Grace’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of the Saxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Grace’.

The new cultivar originated as a seedling from a controlled cross between the unpatented variety known as LK49 which was the seed parent and the unpatented, commercial variety ‘Amsterdam’ which was the pollen parent.

The variety ‘Grace’ has large attractive inflorescences with large sepalous florets, distinct sepal pigmentation and good tolerance to cold temperatures. The new variety also resists petal edge fading. The new variety resists the darkening of the sepal tips and edges as the floret ages which is typically characteristic of dark pink and red hydrangeas. Below is a table comparing the new variety to patented varieties with similar sepal pigmentation.

TABLE 1 New USPP 18197 USPP USPP Variety ‘Red 18206 18450 ‘Grace’ Sensation’ ‘JON01’ ‘Maltisse’ Leaf size 13 cm 4.8 cm 82-90 mm  8.1 cm wide × wide × wide × wide × 16 cm   8 cm 110-130 12.6 cm long long mm long long Stem strength Stems are Strong Unknown Strong strong but benefit from being staked Sepal Upperside Upperside of Upperside Upperside Pigmentation of sepals is sepals is of sepals is of sepals is R.H.S. R.H.S. R.H.S. R.H.S. 63 A (red- 64 D; 71 B; 60 C; purple group); Underside Underside Underside Underside of of sepals is of sepals is of sepals is sepals is R.H.S. R.H.S. 63 C R.H.S. R.H.S. 63 D (red- 72 D 57 D purple group) Floret Size  70 mm to 4.5 cm 50 mm  4.7 cm 100 mm

The new cultivar ‘Grace’ has been successfully asexually reproduced under controlled environmental conditions at a nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. under the direction of the inventor over a three year period with its distinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

Asexual reproduction was first accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initially selected plant. Examination of asexually reproduced, successive generations grown in at Half Moon Bay, Calif. show that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Grace’ remains firmly fixed through three generations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show the typical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and sepals.

FIG. 1 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the color of its sepals.

FIG. 2 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the color of its sepals.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the base of the stem.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the adaxial surface of a mature leaf.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of a sepalous floret of the new variety. The sepalous floret has opened.

FIG. 6 is a close-up view of a sepalous floret of the new variety. The sepalous floret has not opened.

FIG. 7 is a close-up view of the upperside of a panicle of the new variety, showing opened and unopened sepalous florets.

FIG. 8 is a close-up view of the center of a panicle of the new variety, showing sepalous florets and non-sepalous florets.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The plants shown in the figures are approximately 50 weeks old. The plant started out as cuttings, taken from the stem of a grown plant.

‘Grace’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Color determinations were made with The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

-   The plant:     -   -   Origin.—Controlled cross. The new cultivar originated as a             seedling from a controlled cross between the unpatented             variety known as LK49 which was the seed parent and the             commercial variety ‘Amsterdam’ which was the pollen parent.         -   Form.—Upright, compact shrub. A typical plant with a mature             inflorescence that is ready for sale is approximately 23″             high (with stakes) and has a diameter of 20″ when grown in a             6″ pot with appropriate soil amendments. The pictured plant             had three stems with one inflorescence per stem with 1             cutting per pot.         -   Growth.—Upright, vigorous growth habit. Inflorescence is             large. The plant branches easily with shoots forming at the             base of the plant. Lateral branches are similar in             appearance and form to the main stems.         -   Stems.—Lenticels are present. Lenticels are R.H.S. 86 A             (violet group) and are 1 to 4 mm long. The surface of young             stems is glabrous. Stems become woody as they age. The color             of typical young stems and young lateral branches is R.H.S.             144 A (green group). The older portions of the stems are             R.H.S. 199 C (grey-brown group) Younger portions of the             stems are 7 to 9 mm thick. Older portions of the stems are             10 mm in diameter.         -   Foliage.—Abundant. Leaves are opposite on stem and lateral             branches. Shape of leaf. — Elliptic with acute base and             apex. Margins are serrate. Texture. — Glabrous; veins             dominate on the underside of the leaf and are sunken on the             leaf surface. Color. — Mature leaves have an upper side that             is R.H.S. 147 A (yellow-green group), and an under side that             is R.H.S. 138 B (green group). Leaves are pinnately veined.             The midvein and veins branching off the midvein are large             and prominent on the underside of the leaves. Veins are             R.H.S. 138 B (green group). Leaves are as wide as 13 cm and             16 cm long. Petioles are 2.5-3.5 cm long and 4 mm wide.             Petioles are R.H.S. 138 B (green group). -   Buds:     -   -   Form.—Globose with 3 to 5 connate, elliptic, smooth petals.             Most buds have 4 petals. Buds in the center of the             inflorescence are non-sepalous. The majority of buds have             sepals. They are approximately 1 mm by 1 mm when very young.             Buds can be 5 mm in diameter and still unopened. Buds are             R.H.S. 78 B (purple group) Petals typically fall off with             the reproductive organs.         -   Aspect.—Smooth.         -   Arrangement.—Borne on branched panicles. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Form.—Paniculate. Terminal. As many as 100 or more             individual flowers (florets) per inflorescence. Both             sepalous florets and non-sepalous florets borne on same             panicle. Flowers do not produce a fragrance. The peduncle or             panicle for the inflorescence is strong and upright. Very             few non-sepalous florets developing early on cymes that are             later hidden by sepalous florets. Florets have anthers and             style.         -   Size of inflorescence.—Large and globose. Individual             inflorescence size is dependent on the number of florets. A             typical inflorescence can grow as large as 9″ in diameter,             and 5.″ high.         -   Shape.—Clusters of numerous small florets; sepalous florets             overlap one another. Sepals are persistent.         -   Appearance.—Showy. -   Florets:     -   -   General.—The non-sepalous florets at the center of the             inflorescence open first. Sepalous florets are perfect and             complete. Corolla: Generally there are 5 petals which fall             off as flower matures. Petals are typically 4 mm long and 3             mm wide. Pedicel length for non-sepalous florets averages             4 mm. Pedicel length of sepalous florets is between 30 and             40 mm in length for plants of this age. Pedicels continue to             elongate as the inflorescence ages. Lenticels are present on             pedicels, lenticels are no more than 1 mm long. Lenticels             are R.H.S. 64 B (red-purple group) to R.H.S. 64 B             (red-purple group).         -   Stamens.—8 stamens. Pollen is R.H.S. 155 C (white group).             Plant produces abundant pollen. Filament is approximately 3             to 4 mm long. Filament is R.H.S. 155 C (white Group). Anther             is 1 mm long and is regular and basally attached.         -   Stigma.—Two to three style each, although most florets have             two style. Each style has one stigma. Style is typically 2             mm long. Style is R.H.S. 155 C (white group). Stigma is             R.H.S. 63 A (red-purple group).         -   Ovary.—Ovary is partially inferior.         -   Sepalous florets.—General. — Veins dominate on the underside             of the sepals. Number of sepals. — 4 or 5 sepals per floret,             usually 4. Aspect of sepals. — Smooth and glaucescent. Shape             of sepals. — Reniform with acuminate apex. Edges are entire,             but with some crenation. Size of sepals. — As the florets             mature, the sepals enlarge and overlap each other more and             more, until, often, there is no space between the sepals             when the petals of the florets open. Sepals at maturity are             typically 3.5 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. Flowers are typically             7 to 10 cm in diameter. The uppersides of the sepals are             R.H.S. 63 A (red-purple group) and the undersides are R.H.S.             63 D (red-purple group).         -   Fruit.—none. 

1. A new and distinct Hydrangea macrophylla plant named ‘Grace’ substantially as herein shown and described. 